3166 Senator
Allison: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for the
Environment and Water Resources—With reference to the Government’s
report, Tracking to the Kyoto Protocol target , which shows that Australia
will exceed its Kyoto target of 108 per cent of 1990 levels by 2010
by approximately 7 million tonnes under the present proposed abatement
measures:

(1) Does
the Government still intend to meet the Kyoto target; if so, what measures
will be adopted to abate the reported 7 million tonnes of excess carbon
dioxide emissions by 2010.

(2) (a)
What target for emissions has the Government adopted for 2020; and (b) how
does this target compare with the Kyoto target, and how will it be met.

3167 Senator
Allison: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for the
Environment and Water Resources—

(1) Has
the Government considered the discussion paper prepared by the state
governments in August 2006 which reported on the impact of reducing
the levels of 2005 greenhouse emissions by 19 per cent by 2030; if so,
does the Government agree with the paper.

(2) (a)
Does the Minister accept modelling that shows that if greenhouse emissions
were reduced by 19 per cent by 2030: (i) that there would be an increase
in the cost of electricity of between $1 and $2 a week per household,
and (ii) that it would take just 2 months extra to achieve the level
of gross domestic product that would otherwise be achieved by 2030;
and (b) if the Minister does not accept this modelling, can a detailed
answer be provided as to its shortcomings.

(3) (a)
Does the Minister accept modelling in the May 2006 report of Frontier
Economics, Options for moving towards a lower emissions future , that the cost of reducing greenhouse emissions from the electricity
sector by 40 per cent by 2030 would be: (i) an increased cost of between
$5 billion to $8 billion over 25 years in an economy expected to grow
by $1 6000 billion in that time, and (ii) an increase in average electricity
prices of between 43 and 71 cents per person per week; and (b) if the
Minister does not accept this modelling, can a detailed answer be provided
as to its shortcomings.

3168 Senator
Allison: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Industry,
Tourism and Resources—

(1) Can
details be provided of the Renewable Energy Development Initiative grants
made to date.

(2) What
evidence is there that the scope of the measure has been limited by:
(a) the grants of up to 50 per cent of project costs; and (b) the cap
of $5 million.

(3) When
is it anticipated that the $100 million budget for these grants be:
(a) fully committed; and (b) fully expended.

(4) Has
the Government considered targeted grants for the development and commercialisation
of renewable energy technologies that were the result of Australian
research but appear likely to be lost to overseas interests.

(5) Which of the following measures
suggested by the Business Council of Sustainable Energy are being considered
for adoption: (a) an increase in the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target
from 9 500 gigawatt hours (GWh) to 15 500 GWh by 2010; (b) more stringent
and extensive minimum energy efficiency standards for appliances and
buildings; (c) extension and expansion of the New South Wales Greenhouse
Gas Abatement Scheme by 6 megatonnes per year in 2010; (d) extension
and expansion of the Queensland Gas Scheme to double its contribution
by 2010; and (e) an extensive clean energy fund of $1.5 billion to deploy
clean energy technologies.

(6) For
each measure in paragraph (5) that is not being considered, why is it
not being considered.

Senator Milne: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question
Nos 3170-3172)—With reference to the statement by Origin Energy spokesperson,
Mr Tony Wood, in the article ‘Eureka moment puts sliced solar cells
on track’ ( Science Magazine , vol. 315, 9 February 2007, p. 785) that the
company plans to announce a commercial plant to manufacture SLIVER cells
that will ‘likely be in Europe or North America to be closer to markets
and to take advantage of government incentives for alternative energy’:

(1) Has
the Minister, the department, or its officers, discussed SLIVER cells
and the future of their development with Origin Energy; if so, can a
list be provided of correspondence and meetings with Origin Energy,
including the dates, participants and a summary of issues discussed.

(2) Can
a list be provided of solar technologies which were invented, since
1996, in Australia but have been commercialised overseas.

(3) (a)
What analysis has been made of the potential for SLIVER cells and other
solar technologies to generate sustainable cost competitive power; and
(b) can a list be provided of reports or papers where this analysis
is documented, including the title, author, date and a description of
the analysis.

(4) What
action will, or has, the Minister taken to ensure that SLIVERs are developed
to their full potential.

(5) Should
Australian inventions, such as SLIVERs, be commercialised in Australia.

(6) (a)
What government incentives are available in Europe and North America
for alternative energy that are not available in Australia; and (b)
will the Australian Government introduce comparable alternative energy
incentives.

3171 Minister representing the Minister for Education, Science and
Training

3172 Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources